Coprosma plant named ‘COPJOH02’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Coprosma repens  named ‘COPJOH02’ is disclosed, characterized by vibrant burgundy foliage with a bright pink margin and shiny, narrow leaves. Plant habit is upright and plants are useful for colorful Winter plantings. The new cultivar is a  Coprosma repens , typically suited for ornamental container and landscape use.

Latin name of the genus and species: Coprosma repens.

Variety denomination: ‘COPJOH02’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is the result of chance discovery in a commercialnursery in Suffolk, England. The inventor, John Lord, a citizen ofEngland, discovered the new variety as a single branch, naturallyoccurring mutation growing in a commercial planting of the parentvariety Coprosma repens ‘JWNCOPPS’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,607. Thediscovery was made in the Summer of 2008.

After selecting and isolating the new cultivar, the inventor continuedevaluating and testing the new variety. A final selection of the newcultivar ‘COPJOH02’ was made in the same commercial nursery in Summer of2010. First propagation was performed by vegetative cuttings during theSummer of 2008. After the final selection of ‘COPJOH02’ during 2010, 2additional generations have been propagated. This subsequent propagationhas shown the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproducedtrue to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘COPJOH02’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘COPJOH02’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘COPJOH02’ as a new and distinct Coprosmacultivar:

-   -   1. Vibrant foliage with a burgundy center and bright pink        margin.    -   2. Glossy foliage.    -   3. Upright plant habit.    -   4. Usefulness for Winter ornamental interest

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘COPJOH02’ are similar to the parent,‘JWNCOPPS’ in most horticultural characteristics. However, ‘COPJOH02’differs in foliage color. Foliage of the new variety is distinctlyburgundy in the center, with a bright pink margin. Foliage of the parentvariety has a Greyed-Red mid-section and a Greyed-Purple margin.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘COPJOH02’ can be compared to the patentedcommercial variety Coprosma ‘Fireburst’ U.S. Plant Pat No. 14,906.Plants of ‘COPJOH02’ are similar to ‘Fireburst’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, ‘COPJOH02’ has more vibrantly colored foliage,with a burgundy center and bright pink margins. Foliage of ‘Fireburst’is yellow-green in the center with a medium pink edge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘COPJOH02’ grown outdoors in Silvan, Victoria,Australia This plant is approximately 18 months old, shown in a 3 literpot. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘COPJOH02’ plants grown outdoors in Silvan,Victoria, Australia. Temperatures ranged from approximately 7° C. to 10°C. at night to 15° C. to 30° C. during the day. No artificial light,photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to theplants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplant types.

-   Botanical classification: Coprosma repens ‘COPJOH02’.-   Age of the plant described: Approximately 18 months.-   Container size of the plant described: 3 liter commercial container.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: Summer: 20 to 25 days at approximately 20°    C.-   Root description: Fine, densely branched, non-fibrous, non-fleshy

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright.-   Pot size of plant described: 3 liter.-   Height: Approximately 50 cm from soil line to top leaf, after 5    years.-   Plant spread: Approximately 30 cm after 5 years.-   Stem diameter: Approximately 0.3 cm.-   Stem color: Near RHS Greyed-Green 197A.-   Branching characteristics: Moderately well-branched, bushy and    upright habit.-   Length of primary lateral branches: Average range from 10 to 25 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, sessile.        -   Average leaves per lateral branch.—Approximately 10 to 20.        -   Average length.—2 to 4 cm.        -   Average width.—1 to 2 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Shiny, leathery.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Shiny, leathery.        -   Pubescence.—Non pubescent all surfaces.        -   Aspect.—Undulating or rolled margins, slight twist to            overall leaf blade.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Center near RHS Purple            N77A, margin near Red-Purple N57A. Young foliage under side:            Center near RHS Purple N77A, margin near Red-Purple N57A.            Mature foliage upper side: Center near RHS Purple N77A,            margin near Red-Purple N57A. Mature foliage under side:            Center near RHS Purple N77A, margin near Red-Purple N57A.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side:            Indistinguishable from leaf blade. Venation color under            side: Indistinguishable from leaf blade.

FLOWER

-   Flower type: Only male flowers observed to date. Small, polypetalus,    flowers occurring in axillary umbels. Corolla described, calyx    present, however, too minute to measure.-   Male flower description:    -   -   Flowers per umbel: 10 to 20.        -   Flowering season.—Spring.        -   Length of flowering.—Approximately 2 weeks.        -   Flower length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Flower width.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Outer flower surface color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 151C.        -   Inner flower surface color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 150C.        -   Petal length.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Petal width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.-   Stamens:    -   -   Quantity.—5.        -   Filament length.—0.3 cm.        -   Filament color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 150C.        -   Anther shape.—Oblong.        -   Anther length.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Anther color.—Near RHS Yellow 7C.        -   Pollen color.—Near RHS Black 202A.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    normal diseases and pests of Coprosma has been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates low temperatures to    approximately −5° C. and has been observed to tolerate high    temperatures to at least 30° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Coprosma repensplant named ‘COPJOH02’ as herein illustrated and described.